BALA Town FC slipped to their second defeat on the bounce as Neath turned on the style at the Gnoll to sound a warning to their rivals.

Neath came out with all guns blazing, Paul Fowler rattling the bar in the first minute before Luke Bowen scrambled a sixth minute opener from a corner and Craig Hughes chipped a second six minutes later.

Hughes then hit the bar for the hosts but Bala came more into the game with Lee Hunt's header well saved by keeper Lee Kendall, while Connall Murtagh and Mark Jones also went close with fine strikes.

Neath, however, continued to prove a threat with Fowler missing a golden opportunity with the goal at his mercy while Hughes brushed the bar with a 20-yarder.

And there was no way back for Bala once Bowen made it 3-0 on the hour mark after a great run from Lee Trundle who then made it 4-0 on 67 minutes.

Bala continued to give it their best shot in an end to end affair, Murtagh firing over, but Neath proved too hot in their best display of the season.

Defeat sees Bala slip into fifth spot on goal difference, while their

conquerors Neath are up to second and just one point behind The New Saints.